If you were standing in Washington, D.C., in the spring of 1868, you’d probably think the world was ending. Or at least the American government. People were literally brawling in the streets over whether the President should be thrown in jail. It wasn’t just a "political disagreement." It was a total breakdown of how the country was supposed to work.
The impeachment of Andrew Johnson wasn’t just about a guy breaking a weird law. Honestly, it was a fight for the soul of the United States right after the bloodiest war in its history.
Why Everyone Was Actually Angry
Most history books tell you Johnson got impeached because he fired a guy. While that's technically true—he fired Secretary of War Edwin Stanton—it’s kinda like saying a volcano erupted because of a small pebble. The real heat had been building for years.
You’ve got to remember the context. Abraham Lincoln had just been assassinated. The Civil War was over, but the "Peace" was a mess. Johnson was a Southern Democrat who stayed loyal to the Union, which sounds great on paper, but in reality, he was a white supremacist who hated the idea of giving Black Americans any rights. He was constantly vetoing bills meant to help former slaves. He basically wanted the South to go back to "business as usual" as quickly as possible.
The Radical Republicans in Congress? They were beyond furious. They wanted to transform the South. They wanted the Fourteenth Amendment. They wanted real change.
The Law That Was Basically a Trap
Because Johnson kept vetoing everything, Congress decided to set a trap. They passed the Tenure of Office Act in 1867. This law basically said the President couldn't fire his own cabinet members without the Senate's permission.
It was totally unconstitutional. Even at the time, people knew it was sketchy. But they didn't care. They wanted a reason to get rid of him.
Johnson, being incredibly stubborn, walked right into it. He fired Edwin Stanton—a Lincoln holdover who was basically spying for the Republicans—and replaced him with Lorenzo Thomas.
The House of Representatives didn’t wait. On February 24, 1868, they voted 126 to 47 to impeach him.
The Eleven Articles of Impeachment
Congress didn't just throw one charge at him. They threw eleven. They wanted to make sure something stuck.
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- Articles 1-8: These were all variations of the same thing. "You fired Stanton and you weren't supposed to."
- Article 9: This one accused him of ignoring the General of the Army (Ulysses S. Grant) to give orders directly to the military.
- Article 10: This is the spicy one. It basically said Johnson was "too loud" and "rude." They called his speeches "intemperate, inflammatory, and scandalous harangues." Basically, he was impeached for being a jerk.
- Article 11: The "everything but the kitchen sink" article. It summarized the other charges and threw in a few extra complaints for good measure.
The Trial That Paralyzed the Nation
The trial in the Senate was a circus. 1,000 tickets were printed every day. People were climbing over each other to get a seat in the gallery. Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase presided over the whole thing, and honestly, he was one of the few people trying to keep it professional.
Johnson didn't even show up. His lawyers, led by Henry Stanbery, argued that the Tenure of Office Act didn't even apply to Stanton because Stanton was appointed by Lincoln, not Johnson.
The prosecution was led by Thaddeus Stevens and Benjamin Butler. They weren't just trying a case; they were trying to save Reconstruction. They argued that Johnson was a "moral leper" who was ruining the country.
The Vote That Changed Everything
When the vote finally came on May 16, 1868, the tension was unbearable. To convict, the Senate needed a two-thirds majority. At the time, that was 36 votes.
The Republicans had 45 seats. On paper, it was a slam dunk.
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But seven Republicans "defected." They were worried that if they removed a President just because they didn't like his policies, it would destroy the Presidency forever. They thought it would turn the U.S. into a system where Congress just fires whoever they want.
The final tally: 35 Guilty, 19 Not Guilty. He escaped by exactly one vote.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often think this was a victory for the "rule of law."
Sorta.
Actually, it was a mess of backroom deals. Several of those seven Republican senators who voted "Not Guilty" (like Edmund G. Ross) didn't do it just out of high-minded principles. There's evidence that Johnson’s team made deals. He promised to stop blocking Reconstruction. He promised to appoint a Secretary of War that the moderates liked (John M. Schofield).
Basically, Johnson bought his way out.
Why It Still Matters Today
The impeachment of Andrew Johnson set the precedent for every impeachment that followed. It defined what "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" actually meant. Was it just "breaking a law," or was it "being a political nightmare"?
If Johnson had been convicted, the U.S. might have become a parliamentary system where the executive branch is totally subservient to the legislative branch. Instead, we kept a strong (and sometimes problematic) Presidency.
Actionable Insights for History Buffs
If you're looking to understand this period better, don't just look at the trial. Look at what happened after.
- Read the Reconstruction Acts: See exactly what Johnson was trying to block. It makes the anger of the Radical Republicans make way more sense.
- Look into the 14th Amendment debates: This was the real "war" happening in the background of the impeachment.
- Research the Supreme Court's eventual ruling: Decades later, in Myers v. United States (1926), the Supreme Court basically admitted that Johnson was right—the President does have the power to fire executive branch officials.
The whole saga shows that American politics has always been a bit of a contact sport. It wasn't "simpler" back then. It was just as messy, just as angry, and just as focused on the thin line between law and power.
To truly grasp the legacy of this event, compare the articles of impeachment against Johnson with those of later presidents. You’ll find that the "Article 10" complaint about his public behavior remains one of the most controversial and debated uses of the impeachment power in U.S. history.